ABSTRACT
By considering both the sensory and cognitive capabilities and limitations of humans, significant advances can be made in applying virtual environment (VE) technology to manufacturing systems. An integrated approach, which includes feasibility analysis, iterative design, and systematic evaluation, is needed to realize this potential. In order to provide appropriate information support, activity analysis needs to be conducted. A three-step manufacturing activity analysis procedure is presented to evaluate feasibility, determine potential benefits, and to establish the costs and benefits of using VE technology. A limited number of demonstrations and applications of VE technology using visualization (see chap. 53, this volume), simulation, information provision, and telerobotics (see chap. 48, this volume) have been made in manufacturing. These applications relate to tasks including the design of manufacturing activities, design of manufacturing facilities, training, execution of control and monitoring activities, execution of planning activities, and execution of physical processing activities. Only approximately 10% of these applications, however, have been evaluated empirically. The most promising areas for future application and research include manufacturing facilities and product design (see chap. 52, this volume), training (see chaps. 43 and 44, this volume), and execution of physical processing activities.
